Potential for Application of Special Stainless Steels for Chemical Process Equipments

摘要

The most predominant material of construction (MOC) for process equipments in chemical process industries (CPI) is plain carbon steel only. This is because of its lowest cost, easy availability, adequate thermal and mechanical properties, ease of fabrication etc. The only limitation is its low corrosion resistance. When corrosion resistance becomes the deciding factor, for overall resistance to general uniform corrosion, the common austenitic stainless steel Type 304(L) SS, 18/8(L) SS, is used. This has limitation with respect to uniform corrosion in reducing acids and to pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking in chloride containing media. In such situations, Type 316(L) SS, 18/8/2.5Mo/(L), shows somewhat better performance. These are called Standard Austenitic Stainless Steels.